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11h ago

Russian Satellite Allegedly Linked to Nuclear ASAT Program Shows Erratic Behavior

Cosmos 2553, launched in 2022 and suspected by U.S. officials of testing nuclear counterspace capabilities, has been tumbling in orbit since late 2024, raising questions about its purpose and operational status.

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This illustrative image from April 25 2018 shows Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northern Russia during the launch of the Copernicus Sentinel-3 satellite. It was also the launch site of the Cosmos 2553 satellite,
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Overview

  • Cosmos 2553, launched by Russia in February 2022, is officially described as a research satellite for radiation and particle testing but is alleged by U.S. officials to be part of a nuclear anti-satellite weapons program.
  • The satellite began tumbling uncontrollably in mid-November 2024, according to data from commercial tracking firms LeoLabs and Slingshot Aerospace, though recent observations hint at partial stabilization.
  • Its unusual orbit, located in a high-radiation zone rarely used by other satellites, has fueled speculation about its dual-use potential and possible links to a nuclear ASAT program.
  • Russia vetoed a 2024 UN resolution aimed at strengthening the Outer Space Treaty, which bans nuclear weapons in space, claiming the resolution was too narrowly focused on nuclear arms.
  • U.S. Space Command and independent trackers continue to monitor Cosmos 2553's movements, as its potential role in advancing space militarization and counterspace technologies remains under scrutiny.